Matteo Luccio has had a life-long passion for navigation, closely related to his passion for sailing. He has been writing professionally about geospatial technologies for almost 20 years and is president of Pale Blue Dot, LLC, based in Portland, Oregon.

For 30 years, an Alaska-based company has been producing digital mapping and photogrammetic software to help automate the complex work of data interpretation. Photogrammetry, long the foundation of mapping, has evolved much since 1987 when DAT/EM Systems International was founded. Despite all the advances in both hardware and software, however, the latter cannot yet reliably...

Glen Mattioli, Director of Geodestic Infrastructure, UNAVCO This is the third article in our series introducing you to scientists and technologists who work in pursuit of early-warning capabilities for earthquakes and volcanoes—in the increasingly aligning fields of seismology, geodesy, and surveying. You can access this series on our website by searching the author’s name. Glen...

From mapping utility poles to mapping radio frequency signal leaks, this company collects and manages much of the country’s utilities and oil and gas data. Effigis is an interesting Canadian firm that offers a range of GIS solutions for utilities and the oil and gas industry—as well as its own GNSS positioning solution for asset inventory/mapping and utility/energy...

Comparing systems for real-property management in the Netherlands and the United States Editor’s Note: the most valuable fiscal investment for many in their lifetime is in real-property; and quite understandably matters of legal and spatial certainty is of utmost importance to property owners, financial institutions, and public entities (for taxation, planning, and land management purposes)....

Interview with Scott Martin, Chief of Geodetic Control and GNSS Surveys, California DoT Above: UNAVCO/PBO station P655 with Mt. Shasta in the background. Matteo Luccio: Scott, what is your relevant background and what is your current role? Scott Martin: I’m a state employee with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in the Office of Land...

Ken Hudnut, science advisor for risk reduction, US Geological Survey, talks GPS and earthquakes. Editor’s note: In many ways, we are all participants in a grand scientific endeavor that’s on the cusp of helping humankind prepare for some of the most destructive natural hazards–earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The fields of seismology, geodesy, and surveying have...